Car-coupling



(No Model.) '2 Sheets-Sheet. 1-.

T. L. Mo-KEEN.

OAR COUPLING.

No. 430,743. 7 Patented June 24, 1890.

minimal Z r I gvwawtoi (No Model.)

- 2 Sheets-Sheet 2. T. L. McKEEN.

GAR COUPLING.

No. 430,743. Patented June 24, 1890.

NITED STATES PATENT THOMAS L. MCKEEN, OF 'EASTON, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO THE TIIURMOND CAR COUPLING COMPANY, OF VEST VIRGINIA.

CAR-COUPLING.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 430,743, dated June 24, 1890..

Application filed January 4, 1890- Serial No. 335,868. ,(No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, THOMAS L. MCKEEN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Easton, in the county of Northampton and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Car-Couplings; and I hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure l is a sectional plan view of a coupling embodying my invention, the top of the draw-head removed. Fig. 2 is a vertical trans verse section of the same on the line in w, Fig. 1, looking in the direction of the arrow. Fig. 3 is a horizontal section of the coupling and draw-head on the line a; as, Fig. 5. Fig. 4: is a vertical transverse section of the same on the line 1 1/, Fig. 3, looking in the direction of the arrow. Fig. 5 is a vertical longitudinal section of the coupling on the line .e 2, Fig. Fig. (3 is a detached perspective view of the pivoted nose of the coupler. Fig. 7 is a similar view of the locking-pin corresponding to the conformation of the tailpiece of the pivoted nose shown in Fig. 6. Figs. 8 f), and 10 are perspective views of modified forms of the coupling devices, the pivoted nose with its tail-piece, and the corresponding lockilig-pin therefor being shown in each figure. Fig. 11 is a detail sectional view showing the manner of and means for locking the nose when coupling on a curve or where the nose cannot close or complete its inward movement. Fig. 12 shows arrangement of lifting-rod for locking-pin.

Like symbols refer to like parts wherever they occur.

My present invention relates particularly to the construction of the locking mechanism of that class of car-couplings wherein a pivoted nose'havin g a rearwardly-p roj ectin gtail-piece is employed in conjunction with a lockingpin ,or that class commonly known as the Janney type of coupling, though a number of the features hereinafter described will be found to be of character readily adapted by the skilled mechanic to other well-known forms of pivot-nose couplings.

The main object I have in view is to enable the brakeman to set the locking mechanism'so as to cut the train in as many places as is desired and recouple or again couple up without further attention to the locking mechanism, and this I accomplish by providing a locking-pin which has recesses to receive the tail-piece, with a shoulder adapted to support or suspend the locking-pin from the head during a portion of the outward or opening movement of the pivoted nose and its tailpiece, and in providing the tail-piece with a swell or projection adapted to trip the pin during the outward movement of the tailpiece,whereby the tail-piece is caused to carry and support the locking-pin until the completion of its return orinward coupling movement, which construction embraces one feature of my invention.

There are other minor details of construction involving novelty, all as will hereinafter more fully appear. 1

I will now proceed to describe my invention more specifically to facilitate the application of the same by others skilled in the art.

In the drawings, 1 indicates the draw-head, its rear end broken oif, as the same involves no novel feature. The head proper is provided with the horns 2 and 3 and the intermediate curved buffing-face 4. On the horn 3 the coupling-nose 5 is pivoted, and the tail 6 of said pivoted nose 5 extends backward into the cavity (or box) 7 within the head back of the horn 3.

The general character of the features above specified is that of What is commonly known as the pivoted nose or Janney type of coupling, though the equivalent elements of other well-known forms of coupling may be substituted therefor and modified or supplied With the particular features of construction embracing my invention, as hereinafter set forth."

In constructing the head 1 the metal or stock forming the same at the base of horn 2 is so disposed, as at 8, to be flush with the pinhole, and form a lateral support for the looking pin, whereby the shock and strain from the tail of the pivoted nose are transmitted to and absorbed by the metal in the head. The head 1 is also provided at points within its cavity 7, near the side wall thereof, with short posts or projections 0-two in numberwhich extend from the horizontal or top and bottom walls of the head just in advance of the said side wall to receive the blow of the tail-piece 6 of the pivoted nose.

5 indicates the pivoted nose of the couplinsghaving the rearwardly-extending looking portion or tail-piece (3, which in this class of couplings is locked or secured by the locking-pin. I11 the upper and lower surfaces of said tail-piece 6, and at the edge thereof, I form recesses 10 for the reception of the short vertical posts 9, which project inward from the horizontal walls of the head, and in order that these short posts 9, coacting with the tailpiece, may relieve the pivot-pin 11 of the nosepiece from shock and strain I allow an eighth of an inch or other sufficient play of the parts; or, in other words, the recesses 10 and the pivot-hole for pivot-pin 11 are of slightly greater diameter than the corresponding pins.

In order to reduce to a minimum the necessary movement of the locking-pin in looking and unlocking the coupling, I form the rear edge of the tail-piece (3 with a series of recesses and projections and the front face of the locking-pin 12,01 that portion which stands in the path of the tail-piece (3, with a corresp'onding series of recesses and projections, so that when'the locking-pin is slightly raised its recesses will stand opposite the pro jections on the rear edge of the tail-piece and permit the passage or rotation of the tailpiece 6; but when the locking-pin 12 falls even a slight distan ce its projections will pass the projections on the tail-piece (i and lock the coupling.

The recesses in the rear edge of the tailpiece I have indicated by the symbols t3, and the projections by the symbol 6, and the cor responding recesses and projections in the face of the locking-pin I have indicated by the symbols 12 for the recesses and 12" for the projections. To limit the forward or outward play of the tailpiece 6, a lug or stop 0 is placed at the rear of the recesses 6 of the tail-piece. It is evident that said recesses and projections (5 6 12 12 may be variously formed, and some constructions will possess advantages over others. I have, therefore, shown the preferred form in Figs. 1 to 7 Sheet 1, of the drawings, and several modifications in the Figs. 8, 9, and 10 of Sheet 2.

The locking-pin 12 is preferably rectangular in cross-section, and, as distinctly shown in Figs. 1, 2, and 11 of the drawings, locks the pivoted nose by that side of the key which is parallel with the edge of the tailpiece 6 and also parallel with the wall 8 of the head 1. This side (or the locking side) of locking-pin 12 is provided above with a slight shoulder or projection 13, the distance of said shoulder 13 above the recess 12 of the locking-pin being such as to bring said recess 12 opposite the projection 6 of the tail-piece when the locking-pin 12 has been raised, and said shoulder 13 rests on the projection 1st or lip of the pin-hole, so as to allow of the free rotation or passage of the tail-piece. To facilitate the tipping or side motion of the pin when raised to place shoulder 13 over the edge 11 of the pin-hole, I also bevel off or narrow the lower end of the locking-pin, as indicated at 15. It is desirable, however, that this locking-pin should be positively tripped by the tail-piece in its movement, so that it shall drop slightly and rest upon the tailpiece when the pivoted nose opens and be ready to automatically complete its fall and lock the coupling when the pivoted nose subsequently completes its return inward movementor coupling-movement, and for this purpose I form a boss or swell 16 on the projection 6 of the tail-piece, thereby providing a positive and certain means for automatically operating the locking-pin.

For locking the coupling on curves or where the pivoted nose 5 cannot at once complete its inward movement, I recess the locking side of the locking-pin slightly, as at 12", on a plane corresponding to the recess 12 on the front or face of the locking-pin, so that the projection 6 of the tail-piece 6 can pass out of the recess 12 in the face of the locking-pin into the recess 12 on the side thereof, and the locking-pin 12 fall slightly, (see Fig. 11,Sheet 2,) so as to temporarily lock the nose. When the nose-piece can complete its inward movement, the backward movement of tail-piece (3 will allow the locking-pin 12 to fall the balance of its drop and complete the locking of the coupling.

I prefer to form a recess 17 in the head 1 and a seat 18 in the pin 12 to accommodate the head of the cotter-pin,'as indicated in Fig. 5 of the drawings.

The devices, being constructed substantially as hereinbefore specified, will operate as follows: As shown in full lines, Figs. 1 and 2, the pivoted nose is locked and the cars are coupled. In order to uncouplc, the lockingpin 12 is raised a short distance by the brakeman and the shoulder 13 rested on the edge 1+1 of the pin-hole. (See dotted lines, Fig. 2.) This brings the corresponding recesses and projections-6 (5" and 12 l2 on the rear edge of the tail-piece (5 and front face of lockingpin 12 in such relation that the projections on. the tail-piece will pass through the recesses in the face of the locking-pin and the nose 5 can swing out oropen. In this outward movement of the nose the swell 16 on the projection (3 of the tail-piece will trip the lockingpin 12, throwing it off of shoulders 13 Hand causing it torest on the tail-piece 6, while the lug or projection 0 on the tail-piece will limit its outward movement and prevent the escape of pin 12. At the close of this outward or uncoupling movement of the pivoted nose 5 the parts are in the position shown in full lines, Figs. 3, 4, and 5, and are ready to automatically couple or lock on the return or inward movement of the nose 5, the locking-pin being still supported by the interlocking parts IIO 6" 6 12 12, as shown on Figs. 4 and 5. On the inward return or looking movement of the p voted nose the projections 6 of the tailpiece (3 will escape from the recesses 12" in the face of the locking-pin 12, and if the-cars are on a curve (or the lock is to be made on a sharp curve) the projection 6 of the tail-piece will enter the recess 12 and the locking-pin 1.2 will only drop the short distance allowed by said recess (see Fig. 11) until such time as the pivoted nose ,5 can complete its inward movement, when the locking-pin 12 will complete its drop and return to the position shown in full lines, Fig. 2, which forms the full or regular lock of the coupling. Then the pivoted nose 5 completes its inward movement, the recesses in the tail-piece 6 will receive short posts or projections 9 9, which project from the horizontal metal of the draw-head, and thus relieve the side wall of the head from blows or shocks, and at the same time this tail-piece 6 willbe held between said pins or posts 9 9 and the locking-pin 12, the locking-pin 12 being in turn supported by the wall 8 of the draw-head. The pivoted nose 5, it will be noted, is thus held directly by the head and its pivot-pin 11 is relieved of all strains or blows.-

For lifting the locking-pin 12 onto the shoulder 13 to arrange the automatic set for uncoupling and recoupling, I prefer to use a lifting-rod 19, the lifting-lever 20 thereof being off or beyond the central line of the car and coupling, as shown in Fig. 12, so that when the locking-pin is lifted thereby it will be drawn over to one side until its shoulder 13 passes over and rests on the lip 14 of the pin-hole, as hereinbefore set forth.

Having thus fully set forth the construction embodying my invention, its objects, and advantages, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a car-coupling, the combination, with a pivoted nose provided with a tail-piece having a recess in and projection on its rear edge, of a locking-pin arranged in the path of the tail-piece, and having a recess in its face for the passage of the tail piece and a recess in its locking side corresponding in location with that on its face, substantially as and for the purposes specified.

2. In a cancoupling, the combination, with a pivoted nose, provided with a tail-piece having a recess and a projection on its rear edge and a swell on the face of the projection of the tail-piece, of a locking-pin arranged in the path of the tail-piece and having a recess in its face for the passage of the projection on the tail-piece and a suspensionshoulder on its looking side, just below the head of the locking-pin, substantially as and for the purposes specified.

8. In a car-coupling, the combination, with a pivoted nose having a tail-piece, provided with a recess or projection and a swell on the face of the projection, of a lockingpin arranged in the path of the tail-piece and having a recess in its face, a recess in its locking side corresponding in location with the firstnamed recess, and a suspension-shoulder just below the head of the pin on the locking side thereof, substantially as and for the purposes specified.

l. In a ear-coupling, the combination, with a pivoted nose having a tail-piece, provided with a swell or boss for tripping the lockingpin, of a locking-pin arranged in the path of the tail-piece, provided with a recess in its face for the passage of the tail-piece and a suspension-shoulder onrits locking side, substantially as and for the purposes specified.

5. In a car-coupling, the combination, with a pivoted nose having a tailpiece and a swell or boss on the face of the tail-piece for tripping the locking-pin, of a locking-pin arranged in the path of the tail-piece and having a recess in its face, a recess in its locking side, and a suspension-shoulder just below the head of the pin on the locking side thereof, substantially as and for the purposes specified.

6. In a car-coupling, the combination of a pivoted nose having a tail-piece, a lockingpin recessed for the passage of the tail-piece of the pivoted nose, said locking-pin having a suspension-shoulder, and a lifting-lever arranged at one side of the central line of the coupling and connected with the locking-pin, substantially as and for the purposes specified.

7. In a car-coupling, the combination of a pivoted nose having a tailpiece,providcd on its face with a swell or boss for tripping the locking-pin, of a locking-pin recessed for the passage of the tailpiece, said pin having a suspensionshoulder, and a lifting-lever arranged at one side of the central line of the coupling and connected with the locking-pin, substantially as and for the purposes specified.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses this 2d day of J anuary, 1890.

THOMAS L. MCKEEN.

WVitnesses:

BYRON W. ANDERSON, M. II. ZUKQWSKI. 

